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UNITED STATES FFICE.

PATENT GEORGE S. LEE, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,615, dated November 13, 18188. Application filed January 14, 1888. Serial No. 260,754. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of 0010- rado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Composition for the Manufacture of Building Blocks, Tiles, Bricks, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of ornamental building blocks, tiles, brick railroad sleepers,telegraph-poles, fence-posts,and a great variety of other articles for various purposes; and it consists in a novel composition of matter especially adapted thereto, whereby said articles may be produced of any form and dimensions, ornamented in any desired manner by designs either in intaglio or relief and of any desired color, said articles having great tensile strength, fine grain or texture, and being possessed of almost unlimited toughness and durability, and being, moreover, a non-conductor of heat.

The invention consists in the novel composition of matter, hereinafter fully set forth, and then specifically pointed out and defined in the claim.

In forming my improved composition of mat ter I take slag from gold and silver reduction works and finely pulverize the same. Fire clay and talc, together with red oxide of iron or the brick-clay of commerce, is also finely pulverized and intimately mingled with the pulverized slag in the proportions of about fifty parts of the slag, twenty-five parts of fireclay and talc, and fifteen parts of red oxide of iron or briclcelay, the latter ingredient being added not only as a coloring, but also as a binding or cementing, ingredient when used in the proportions specified. To this mixture I then add asphaltum and crude petroleum, using five to eight parts of the latter and from two to five parts of the former, the asphaltum being dissolved previously in benzine or spirits of turpentine. These ingredients are thoroughly mingled, and the plastic mass is placed in a steel mold of the desired form, where itis subjected to powerful hydraulic pressure, varying from one to five tons per square inch. Then taken from the mold, it is heated to burn out the crude petroleum and asphalt and bring the basic slag to a pasty or plastic condition. The article is then cooled and is ready for use.

The color of the finished article may be variegated by the melting of the slag. and the shade of color may be widely varied by differing the percentage of the red oxide of iron and fire-clay. In this manner the finished article may be given any coloror tint between acreamwhite and a deep brick-red.

As already stated, any design may be molded on or in the article produced by simply using a proper mold or by employing a die upon the article, when molded, under hydraulic press ure, but before firing to burn out the petroleum and asphalt. The bricks,building-blocks, and other articles formed from this composition are practically non-inflammable and even fire-proof.

WVhen used for telegraph-poles, I may mold the composition into a tubular form and fill the same with a core of wood or of plastic material, either of which would remain for an indefinite period without deterioration, decay, or the usual contraction and expansion from changes of temperature. In using the material for railway-sleepers I prefer to employ a wooden or other core; or it may be two cores, either molded in the sleeper separately or, if preferred, connected by a metal rod or rods or other device. I may, however, form the core of a single piece of wood or other material, and connect the ends which underlie the rails by means of an intermediate portion formed of the same material as the ends and integral therewith. This core or cores gives an elastic support to the rails and furnishes a base of attachment for the spikes which attach the rails to the sleepers.

It will be understood that the proportions in which the several ingredients named enter into the composition may be very greatly varied Without in any manner departing from my invention.

The composition described may also be employed to great advantage and with marked economy in the manufacture of emery-wheels.

Heretofore the slag from gold and silver reduction works has been used in conjunction merce, the whole being pulverized and mingled with fire-clay, talc, and asphaltum dissolved and asphaltum dissolved in crude petroleum in crude petroleum, as set forth in an applieaworked into the mass, substantially as detion filed of even date by me, and I therefore scribed. r5 5 make no broad claim in the present case to In testimony whereof I have affixed my sigsuch invention. 1 nature in presence of two witnesses.

What I claim is- 4 The composition of matter hereinbefore de- GEORGE scribed, consisting of slag from gold and silver \Vitnesses:

10 reduction works, fire-clay and talc, and red JAMES L. NORRIS,

oxide of iron or the common brick-clay of com- J. A. RUTHERFORD. 

